Chapter 526: Strike out - Part 1

Max was facing the camera as he waited for the clock to strike eight while Kira and the others worked on their equipment in the production room. Cedric was operating behind the lens, and they were all set to broadcast their news for the first time on their new channel. 

Just like Max and his team, many other people were waiting for the channel to open up so that they could tune into it. Discussions and arguments had surfaced on social media the entire day  as the public tried to come up with what could the news be about. Though they had a rough idea after reading the no-less-than-an-explosive message on social media, they were curious to know more.

The waiting was killing them, and it had annoyed them to such a level that they had left hate and threatening comments on the agency's social account. However, it had no effect whatsoever, for they did not receive any reply from them. All their warnings and threats were ignored, and now the people could only wait until the channel went live.

More than half the country was staring at the blank screen, waiting for it to open up. The moment the clock struck eight, the channel was activated as promised. Many people who had the habit of surfing the news channels were shocked to see a familiar face. Many viewers knew who Max was, and they were pleasantly surprised to see him on a different platform. 

"Good evening, everyone." Max started as soon as the camera switched on, and he proceeded to give a small introduction about their channel. He did not say more words than necessary lest the viewers should skip the channel in disinterest.

"Three years ago, a scandal broke out which caused chaos in the country." Max jumped to the topic at hand immediately. "A scandal so brutal and barbaric that it is impossible to forget." Max placed his left elbow on the table in front of him, showing his seriousness and fury. "Many hospitals were found to be involved in shady dealings and illicit removal of organs."

Max listed out all the hospitals that had come to light three years ago and the TV screen split into two. While one part showed Max, the other part showed the hospital and the relevant clips they had with them. Once he was done listing out the hospitals involved in the past, he started listing new hospitals from the proofs Noah had handed him, and the first clinic he spoke about was the Good City Clinic.

People were waiting for the truth, and Max provided them exactly what they needed. He listed out the next hospital, and it was quite a well known hospital, unlike the Good City Clinic. 

"It is shocking to know that the hospital we have next on our list is quite a famous one which was once considered to be the best in the nation. But right now..." Max stopped speaking and clicked his tongue, and immediately after, a video clip started playing.

A man wearing a brown coat was seen entering a room. Even though there was only one source of light in the entire room, his face was clearly visible, and the moment some people saw who he was, their eyes widened in disbelief.

Max took this opportunity to speak. "I presume many people who visit the City Central Hospital might be familiar with him. He is, Trevor Lewis, the Chairman of the hospital and the owner of the BioLife Pharmaceuticals." Max pointed out sarcastically. "It is sure is dreadful to think that the man who should be responsible to save lives or at least try to do so is, in fact, killing them."

Max stopped speaking again, and the video clip which had paused in the middle resumed. Although it was not of brilliant quality, Trevor's face was captured perfectly. It was impossible to argue about the quality of the video. Soon, two men entered the room and they sat beside him. Though the video became shaky, the two men's faces were visible.

The video paused again. "The two men here are the local dealers who deal with hospitals in the city involved in the crime. Likewise, there are a lot of dealers in other cities too, who are in constant touch with hospitals that are ready to commit such inhuman crimes."

Max's face turned cold all of a sudden, and the viewers could see the anger in them. His expressions exactly mirrored theirs, especially the ones who consulted the City Central Hospital. How could they not be angry when the hospital they had trusted with their lives had betrayed them this brilliantly?

The video resumed again, and Trevor started speaking. Compared to the video, the audio quality was top notch, and they could hear every word they spoke clearly. What they heard left the public in shock, and they were now beyond terrified. Trevor Lewis, the Chairman of such a large hospital had completed a deal with the organ dealers for a huge ransom, promising them his and his hospital's utmost cooperation in their crimes. It was impossible to call the video fake as it had the time setting switched on, showing the date and time when the deal had been done.

It did not take long for chaos to erupt, and people started to bash the hospital on social media. All sorts of curse words and scoldings were posted, and the ones who stayed close to the hospital even rushed forward to kick up a fuss.

The hospital which was once peaceful became a mess, and it had been a few minutes since their true and evil intentions were revealed to the public. Neither the doctors nor the other staff who were working at that moment had any idea as to what had transpired and why people were flooding past their gates.

Stones and sticks were thrown at them, and it became completely disorderly in seconds. Though the number of people was quite less, it still attracted everyone's attention, and the crowd density only increased.

The entire nation was sent into a state of frenzy as soon as the evil truth of the country's one of the best hospitals were revealed. And the one among the people who was mortified the most was Stuart. He too had switched to the channel, curious to find out what the news would be about, and the second he heard about the hospital he had previously worked at being involved in such a big scandal, he completely lost his composure.

Stuart stared at the screen, focusing more on Trevor Lewis, who he had met a lot of times at the hospital when he first started his work. 'Did I work under such a scoundrel?' He pondered, his hand holding onto the remote tight. He could not control his temper, and his knuckles turned white due to the sheer force he was exerting.

'Oh, my dear Lord!' It was only after a few seconds passed that his anger faded and reality set in. To think that he worked at such a hospital started to consume his mind, filling it with guilt. Though he was in no way related to the shady dealings, he still could not stop himself from being regretful. 'I am fortunate to have switched hospitals. Otherwise, my life would be completely ruined.'